An opportunity from Catherine Rushford and Associates
This two-day course has been designed to help Practitioners in adopting a well-informed approach to working with a diverse community of children and families, in terms of ethnicity, culture, religion and language.
It assists Practitioners to look at their own experience of 'family', including how this informs their ideas, values and beliefs about how we make contact with people who are similar or quite different from us .....
Posted: 09/10/2015
They will look at:
- Gaining
insight into how the family unit functions, (the structure, history, roles
and communication patterns according to ‘family culture’). - The
family’s history within the UK, including whether they are part of a
long-established community, a newcomer displaced from a region or country
of origin and the accompanying account of arrival.
How
we can ask questions respectfully, including gaining confidence in asking the
unaskable.
It
also builds on the Practitioner’s understanding of child abuse and its links to
family culture, ethnicity and religion, including building much deeper
awareness of:
- Honour-based
violence, domestic abuse and forced marriage - Human,
including child trafficking - Sexual
exploitation - Spirit-based
possession - Female
genital mutilation
We will also explore personal attitudes and beliefs, including those which are
in step with modern, inclusive ‘helping professionals’ and those which may be
unwelcoming, ill-informed or even discriminatory.
Course
intentions
The
intention of this course is to assist Practitioners in:
- Equipping
themselves with a practical framework for understanding safeguarding
concerns as they relate to ethnicity, culture and/or religion. - Developing
an enriched approach to working with families whereby historically taboo
enquiries become the norm, addressed in a respectful way, appreciative of
diversity.
NB.
Applicants to this course must be willing to explore their own family
experience as this is the primary influence on professional engagement with
children and their families.
Who is leading this course?
Catherine
Rushforth and Rahana Hussain Independent Trainers and Consultants are leading
this course. Both have worked with families for in excess of thirty years and
are well-respected in the continuing professional development arena.
Catherine has been working in Childrens Services for 35 years, as an Early
Years Practitioner and Manager, Social Worker and Family Therapist. Catherine
is member of the All Party Working Group First 1001 Days, has led an esteemed
group of experts for the DfE and WAVE Trust in the production of Conception
Age 2 : The Age of Opportunity and is a Champion for warm emotional relationships
in childrens lives.
Rahana is a qualified Social Worker and has worked extensively with children
and their families within a number of London boroughs. She has a particular
‘gift’ for synthesising complex messages from Serious Case Reviews into
practical steps for improved professional practise.
When,
where and how much?
Dates: Tuesday
29th & Wednesday 30th September 2015, 9.30am 4.00pm on each day
NB. Please
note applicants must be able to attend both days of this two-day course.
Location: Downderry
Children & Family Centre, Shroffold Road Bromley BR1 5LD
Trainers: Catherine
Rushforth and Rahana Hussain.
Cost: FREE
Places on this course will be allocated according to those who
make the first applications. 50% of places will be awarded to Lewisham
Services, as Lewisham Family Pathways funds this programme.
